Judge denies request to loosen restrictions on 20-year-old charged with threats to Lexington High

Monday

Jul 21, 2014 at 2:49 PMJul 21, 2014 at 2:49 PM

By Jordan Friasjfrias@wickedlocal.com

After 60 days of house arrest and home confinement, a†Concord District Court judge denied Myles Penniman's defense attorney's request Monday†to loosen those restrictions while awaiting further court proceedings.Penniman, 20, was arrested on May 22 on charges of threatening and disrupting Lexington High School after a series of group texts discussing an plan to shoot faculty and students at the high school were reported to school officials that morning.His lawyer Joseph Perullo requested that Pennimanís conditions of house arrest be modified to allow Penniman to work as a dog walker and caretaker between the hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Perullo said he also†wanted the conditions of house arrest modified to allow Penniman access to his fenced in backyard for exercise, sunlight, and fresh air, saying the confinement court orders are "too restrictive."Perullo also requested the†police and District Attorney's†Office†be ordered to return cellphones belonging to family members of Penniman that were confiscated during investigation.District Court Judge Sabita Singh denied the requests.Perullo told Singh that Penniman has received "great community support" during his time under house arrest, saying the town understands how Pennimanís actions "effected the community, but at the same time not as serious" as thought to be.Perullo referred to the incident as "young kids joking around," and highlighted Pennimanís record as an excellent student and basketball player during his time at LHS and his status as a college student at Clark University in Worcester.The texts revealed a discussion between multiple parties and led to an early dismissal of school on that Thursday afternoon and an investigation by Lexington Police. A juvenile was arrested at the same time, and that case is before a Juvenile Court in Framingham.Perullo told the judge Penniman had no weapons and no intent to act out any threat, adding that the last text Penniman sent told those involved that they had "gone too far."At the courthouse Monday, Penniman sat hunched over beside his grandparents, his mother, and sister as he waited for his case to be called by judge.This case is being handled by Assistant District Attorney Joe Gentile of Framingham. Pennimanís probable cause hearing is scheduled for Aug. 22.